Question

[willie0120]

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I'll be starting my PreMed college in the fall, and I find myself in a bit of a problem, at least I think of it that way. My university offers a BS/MD program but it's only for High School seniors who were accepted into that specific program, as of now I can't really get into this program as I'm considered a freshman already.
My question is should I just take the Pre Reqs. and then major in something else, i don't want to major in biology, chemistry or anything like that. I just want to take the Pre Reqs. and hopefully get into medical school. Will it hurt my chances when applying to Medical School If my college offered a Pre Med major and I didn't get accepted in it, or is it ok to just take the Pre. Med reqs and get a good MCAT score. (plus shadowing, etc).

Also I didn't have time to take Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, or Physics in the upcoming semester as all the spots were taken. Is this gonna set me up to do 5 years instead of a typical 4 year degree, this doesn't bother me but I just want to know.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Poliscidoc]

I'll be starting my PreMed college in the fall, and I find myself in a bit of a problem, at least I think of it that way. My university offers a BS/MD program but it's only for High School seniors who were accepted into that specific program, as of now I can't really get into this program as I'm considered a freshman already.
My question is should I just take the Pre Reqs. and then major in something else, i don't want to major in biology, chemistry or anything like that. I just want to take the Pre Reqs. and hopefully get into medical school. Will it hurt my chances when applying to Medical School If my college offered a Pre Med major and I didn't get accepted in it, or is it ok to just take the Pre. Med reqs and get a good MCAT score. (plus shadowing, etc).

Also I didn't have time to take Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, or Physics in the upcoming semester as all the spots were taken. Is this gonna set me up to do 5 years instead of a typical 4 year degree, this doesn't bother me but I just want to know.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Calm down. You have plenty of time to take what ever classes you want to take. But you do have to declare a major and get a degree. What ever it is it doesnt matter.

 

[Disinence2]

"Pre-med" Isn't a major at most schools. And even if it is I would highly suggest that you not take it.

Major in something your interested in. Focus on your GPA. Take med school pre-reqs. Worry about the MCAT in 2 years. Try to do some fun volunteering.

 

[TopSecret]

I'll be starting my PreMed college in the fall, and I find myself in a bit of a problem, at least I think of it that way. My university offers a BS/MD program but it's only for High School seniors who were accepted into that specific program, as of now I can't really get into this program as I'm considered a freshman already.
My question is should I just take the Pre Reqs. and then major in something else, i don't want to major in biology, chemistry or anything like that. I just want to take the Pre Reqs. and hopefully get into medical school. Will it hurt my chances when applying to Medical School If my college offered a Pre Med major and I didn't get accepted in it, or is it ok to just take the Pre. Med reqs and get a good MCAT score. (plus shadowing, etc).

Also I didn't have time to take Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, or Physics in the upcoming semester as all the spots were taken. Is this gonna set me up to do 5 years instead of a typical 4 year degree, this doesn't bother me but I just want to know.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you're at a school where BS/MD is offered, be prepared for some stiff competition from some highly motivated pre-meds. There may be a bimodal distribution of grades depending on how large the BS/MD class is.

 

[wanderer]

If you're at a school where BS/MD is offered, be prepared for some stiff competition from some highly motivated pre-meds. There may be a bimodal distribution of grades depending on how large the BS/MD class is.

SATs and ECs in high school are poor predictors of pre-med coursework motivation and success. I'm sure those students will be above the average of the class, but it's unlikely that they'll "screw up the curve" much.

 

[TopSecret]

SATs and ECs in high school are poor predictors of pre-med coursework motivation and success. I'm sure those students will be above the average of the class, but it's unlikely that they'll "screw up the curve" much.

Many of these students are valedictorians and National Merit scholars with over a year's worth of college credit from AP courses.

I didn't go this route but I know many who did. I know a couple who actually started college at the age of 16-17, were National Merit scholars, valedictorians at their HS, and were already accepted to medical school when they were 15-16. One of them eventually became a Harvard professor and another an MD/PhD.

 

[wanderer]

Many of these students are valedictorians and National Merit scholars with over a year's worth of college credit from AP courses.

I didn't go this route but I know many who did. I know a couple who actually started college at the age of 16-17, were National Merit scholars, valedictorians at their HS, and were already accepted to medical school when they were 15-16. One of them eventually became a Harvard professor and another an MD/PhD.

There's probably also a few that couldn't hold on to the paltry 3.0 GPA (or whatever GPA or MCAT is required for that school's program) and ended up dropping out of college. All I'm saying is that there is a distribution among these people, and one is not doomed to fighting for a B if he ends up in the same block as the BS/MD kids (assuming they all take it together). In the worst case scenario he could take the courses at a different time or wait a semester and not have to compete with them.

 

[shiftingmirage]

Also I didn't have time to take Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, or Physics in the upcoming semester as all the spots were taken.

E-mail the instructors and ask if they can enroll you. At my UG there was always some wiggle room. Some people are going to drop, some are repeats and didn't re-take the lab. So e-mail the profs of gen chem, bio, and physics. Worst thing that can happen is they tell you no. (Note: I would not advise taking all 3 at the same time, but see whats available).

 

[willie0120]

E-mail the instructors and ask if they can enroll you. At my UG there was always some wiggle room. Some people are going to drop, some are repeats and didn't re-take the lab. So e-mail the profs of gen chem, bio, and physics. Worst thing that can happen is they tell you no. (Note: I would not advise taking all 3 at the same time, but see whats available).

Why didn't I think of this before...I'm so stupid.
Thanks to all who gave some advice.

 

[willie0120]

Which biology should i take for med. school... principles of biology I, biology of human life, or biology for survival... ?

 

[Poliscidoc]

Which biology should i take for med. school... principles of biology I, biology of human life, or biology for survival... ?

If you could get the course description it would be a lot easier. Because biology for survival sounds like a course where you hunt and evade bears